Thermo-couple.



L. W. CHUBB.

THERMO COUPLE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 20. 1914.

1,241,496. Patented Oct. 2,1917.

rWlTNESSES: INVENTOR Maw law/ 14 my ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE.

LEWIS W. GHUBB, OF EDGEWOOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENN- Application filed June 20, 1914. Serial No. 846,278.

SYLVAMA.

THERMO-GOUPLE.

1,241,496. Specification of Letters Patent.

To all whom it concern Be it known that I, Lnwrs W. CHUBB, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Thermo-Couples, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to thermo-couples and particularly to surface type thermocouples.

One object of my invention is to provide a thermo-couple which may be employed to determine the surface temperature of a body.

Another object of my invention is to provide a detachable handle device for thermocouples, so that, if one thermo-couple become damaged, another thermo-couple may be quickly substituted.

It is old in the art to provide thermocouples for immersion in a fluid to determine the temperature of the same and it is also old in the art to provide thermo-couples to determine the surface temperature of a body. However, thermo-couples of the types heretofore constructed havebeen provided with insulating coverings, which do not allow of renewal without provlding an entlrely new thermo-couple and which conduct part of the heat away from the couple, thereby failing to give a true indication of the temperature.

I have provided a thermo-couple for accurately determining the surface temperature of a body, and I have provided also a detachable handle for the same.

Inthe accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of a thermo-couple device embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of a thermo-couple device embodying my invention; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4. is a sectional view taken on the line IVIV of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a side view of a thermo-couple element, and Fig. 6 is a front view of the thermo-couple element shown in Fig. 5.

A cable 1 containing two conductors 2 and A 3 is mechanically connected to a handle 4, and the conductors 2 and 3 are electrically connected to resllient connectors 5 and 6,

respectively. The handle 4. is screw thread-.

ed at its ends for the reception of caps 7 and 8. The cap 7 is usually constructed of metal and it is provided for clamping the cable 1 to the handle 4. The cap 8 is provided for protecting a supporting device 9, substantially as shown in the drawing.

The supporting device 9 comprises two segmental members 10 and 11 which are disposed around an insulating member 12 having slots 13 therein for the reception of the resilient connectors 5 and 6. The segmental members 10 and 11 are held in enga ement with the member 12 by a plurality 0 turns of insulating cord or twine 14. A thermocouple element 15, composed of two dissimilar metals Welded end to end and rolled, is folded at points 16 and 17 and 16 and 17*, substantially as shown. The ends thus formed are inserted in openings in a felt washer 18 and electrically connected to the segmental members 10 and 11. A thin sheet 19 of mica or other suitable insulating material is placed Within the folded portion of the thermo-couple, substantially as shown.

quickly for the one shown if found necessary.

An essentlal feature of my invention is that the flattened or rolled portion of the thermo-couple must have a. surface which is relatively larger than the surface of the conductors 2 and 3. It is also essential that the engaging portion of the thermo-couple be bare and flexible in order that the thermal resistance of the air film or intervening material between the thermo-couple and the surface, the temperature of which is to be determined shall be relatively low with respect to the thermal resistance of the conductors 2 and 3. That is, the relatively large bare engaging surface of the thermocouple is so flexible that its entire contact surface may conform to the surface of an irregular member or body the temperature of which is to be determined to thus cause the thermal resistance of the contact to be relatively low.

The handle 4 and the cap 8 are usually constructed of molded insulating material. However, any other suitable material may be used in the construction of this device. Other methods of forming the thermomethod. Since the thermo-couple is placed in engagement with the surface, the temperature of which is to be determined, and since the engaging surface is relatively large with respect to the size of the conductors 2 and 3, t

e thermo-couple will be' of substantially the same temperature as the surface of the body the temperature of which is to be determined.

My inventionis not limited to the particular construction illustrated, but it is capable of various modifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A thermo-couple comprising two dissimilar metals Welded end-to-end and rolled to form a flat flexible engaging surface and means for so mounting the said thermocouple that its entire flat surface may engage a surface the temperature of wh1ch 18 to be determined.

2. A 'thermo-couple comprising two dissimilar metals flattened at the junction thereof and so folded as to constitute a substantially flat flexible engaging surface that may so engage the surface the temperature which isto be determined that the thersurface will be relatively small.

3. A thermo-couple comprising two substantially flat dissimilar metals so folded as to constitute a flexible engaging surface that is adapted to conform to the surface the temperature of which is to be determined.

4;. A thermo-couple comprising two dissimilar metals welded end' to end and 'rolled, and conductors connected thereto, said thermo-couple having a flexible flat engagmg surface relatively larger face of the said conductors.

A 5. A thermo-couple comprising'two dissimilar metalsfolded to form substantially a straight flat section, an insulating member for resiliently supporting said themacouple in engagement with the surface the temperature of which is to be determined, a handle for said couple, and means for detachably connecting said thermo-couple to said handle.

than the surconnected to said con the combinationengaging surface that it is I '10 of means for so mount be applied directly to a body to determine its temperature.

with two metal conductors welded together end-'to-end and folded to a flat flexible section, of ducting andsupportin member operatively uctors, -a handle and a sleeve for surrounding the detachable member and for detachably detachable member to said handl I 9. A thermo-couple for surface engagement comprising two metal conductors welded together, a resilient means for-sup orting said conductors in engagement with a surface the temperature of which is to be determined, a handle, and means for operatively connecting said thermo-couple to said handle.

10. In a, thermo-coupledevice, the combi nation with a handle, of a thermo-couple having a substantially flat flexible surface, a supporting member for the thermo-couple, and means for surrounding the supporting member to operatively secure it to the handle. 11. A thermo-couple device comprising two dissimilar metals welded together at one end and so folded as to forma substantially form substantially flat resilient section having a relatively large.

area.

12. A' thermo-couple com rising two dissimilar metals welded en -to-end and so rolled as to constitute a substantially flat surface, and resilient means for 'eflecting engagement of all points of the flat surface with the surface the temperature of which is to be determine In testimony whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed my name this 11th day of June, 1914.

RAY P. JAcKsoN, B. B. Hmns.

connecting said a detachable con-'- v 75 f 8. In a thermo-couple, the combination 

